01
The five steps
- 1Case - what happened? Who is involved?
- 2Ruling - what is decided?
- 3Views - is there a dispute? Who says what?
- 4Structure - do the opening and closing clauses differ?
- 5Question - what seems unclear or contradictory to me?
Course map
Chapter 5 · The Mishnah
Reading a mishnah on your own - the five-step method
Lesson 22 of 37 18 min
Before the Gemara speaks, the mishnah must be clear. We build a fixed method for reading any mishnah and practise it on a full one.
Lesson goals
- 01Apply a five-step method
- 02Identify case, ruling and views
- 03Phrase a question the Gemara might ask
02
Practice on "Shenayim Ochazin"
שנים אוחזין בטלית, זה אומר אני מצאתיה וזה אומר אני מצאתיה, זה אומר כולה שלי וזה אומר כולה שלי, זה ישבע שאין לו בה פחות מחציה, וזה ישבע שאין לו בה פחות מחציה, ויחלוקו
Two hold a garment; each says "I found it" and "it is all mine". Each swears he owns no less than half, and they divide it.
Kushya
A learner's question: why both "I found it" and "it is all mine"? - the Gemara itself asks this.
Practice
Apply the five steps to one mishnah from Berakhot and record the answers in a table.
Lesson wrap-up
A mishnah read by method is solid ground for any sugya.
Check your understanding
Test yourself before marking the lesson complete.
Question 1 of 3
What is the first step in the method?